Cliff Lee just couldn’t wait to get the ball back in his hands. So rather than wait for home plate umpire Mike Muchlinski to finish up his discussion with Shane Victorino following a strikeout to end the sixth inning, Lee trotted from the mound to the plate and snatched the ball away. Could you blame him?

Nearly four years ago to the day, the Boston Red Sox tried to sneak J.C. Romero through waivers with the hope of bringing him back in time for the final push to the post season. A rubber-armed lefty, Romero had playoff experience with the Twins and posted solid numbers in 23 games with the Red Sox that season. But when good pitching is available, it takes a lot more stealth maneuvering than waivers.

The excitement didn’t last long for Vance Worley. Within just a few hours of leaving Triple-A Lehigh Valley, arriving in the Phillies clubhouse and hearing he’d be starting Saturday’s game in Seattle, he found himself giving a hug goodbye to J.C. Romero, who was designated for assignment on Thursday to make room on the 25-man roster for Worley. Two years ago when Worley was with Double-A Reading and Romero was there preparing for his return from his suspension, the pair connected.

In the locker room following the Phillies’ 3-0 win over Florida, players packed duffel bags and suitcases to prepare for a weeklong road trip. J.C. Romero stood at his locker and haphazardly tossed equipment into a box. After four years and two World Series appearances with the Phillies, Romero won’t be making the trip. The team designated the veteran lefty for assignment Thursday,

In the surest sign yet that Vance Worley will start for the Phillies on Saturday night, the right-hander will accompany the team to Seattle after Thursday’s game against Florida, sources told CSNPhilly.com. Worley has been the expected starter all along, but the Phils still haven’t made an official announcement. The Phils would have to make a roster move before activating Worley.

This is not a report. This is us having fun. Speculation. Innuendo. But wouldn’t Carlos Beltran be a nice fit for the Phillies this year? Philadelphia is known to be seeking a right-handed outfield bat. The team’s general manager, Ruben Amaro Jr. enjoys the trade deadline splash, and is not averse to landing aging star players. Money could be an obstacle, but the Mets-Phillies rivalry likely would not, given Amaro’s boldness and Sandy Alderson ‘s preference for logic over sentiment.

PHILADELPHIA — John Kruk won’t even come close to comparing himself to names like Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton and Richie Ashburn. For Kruk, being the Phillies’ 2011 Wall of Fame inductee is about family and the smiles and sense of pride his kids will hold when they return to Citizens Bank Park years later and see their father’s name stand among the 32 other Phillies greats.